Chelsea v Liverpool: Where are the 2012 FA Cup final players now?

Liverpool face Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup closing showdown and the Reds shall be out for revenge. 

The Wembley conflict is a rematch of the 2012 FA Cup closing which noticed the west London facet emerge victorious in 2-1 win. 

Objectives from Ramires and Didier Drogba both facet of half-time handed the Blues the lead earlier than Liverpool flop Andy Carroll clawed one again within the sixty fourth minute after coming off the bench to switch Jay Spearing. 

Whereas plenty of large names from the 2012 sides are nonetheless in soccer’s aware, others have ventured down barely totally different paths. 

From tattoo artists to lip sync battle extraordinaires, Liverpool and Chelsea’s stars have found quite a lot of methods to maintain themselves busy. 

Right here Sportsmail takes a have a look at the place the category of 2012 are actually as the 2 sides put together to face one another as soon as once more.  

LIVERPOOL 

Pepe Reina 

The previous Liverpool shot-stopper might have been unable to cease Chelsea again in 2012 nevertheless it actually hasn’t held again his profession. 

The Spaniard remains to be plying his commerce at age 39 for Serie A facet Lazio, making 17 appearances for the Italian facet this season however hasn’t featured within the league since February. 

Reina left the Reds two seasons after the FA Cup defeat to hitch Bayern Munich however spent only one season with the Germans earlier than stints at Napoli and AC Milan with a quick return to England on a mortgage deal to Aston Villa sandwiched in between. 

Glen Johnson 

Johnson hung up his boots on the finish of the 2017-18 season after getting launched by not too long ago relegated Stoke Metropolis. 

Since retiring, the previous full again has been capable of dedicate extra time to being CEO of the property firm he arrange together with his brother throughout his taking part in days. 

He has additionally based an funding firm known as Mattress Of Honey, with has stakes in actual property, wine and superb artwork. 

He has additionally popped up on followers’ tv screens doing media work for beIN Sports activities, talkSPORT and Sky Sports activities. 

Martin Skrtel

The Slovak had been a stalwart of the Liverpool backline for eight seasons at Anfield earlier than ultimately calling time on his profession on Merseyside, leaving for Turkish facet Fenerbahce in 2016. 

After turning into a free agent in January 2021, Skrtel signed for first tier Slovak facet Spartak Trnava in August final 12 months. 

The defender has made 19 appearances this season because the membership completed second within the Fortuna Liga. 

Daniel Agger

Daniel Agger has led an eventful life since leaving Anfield. He retired in 2016 at simply 31, after two seasons again at Brondby, and has managed to maintain himself busy.

In 2013, Agger, arrange a brand new sewage administration enterprise alongside his youthful brother, Marco, known as KloAgger, which reportedly made gross income of £1.77 million in 2019.

It’s no secret the Dane loves tattoos, having seemingly coated each inch of his physique in them and shortly after retiring he took his ardour one step additional.

Agger invested in a tattoo firm known as tattoodo and even grew to become a certified tattoo artist himself.

After a interval away from soccer, Agger bought his first job again within the sport in 2021 as he was appointed head coach of Danish 1st Division membership HB Køge

Jose Enrique

The Spaniard struggled with a foul knee damage in direction of the top of his Anfield profession which pressured him to take painkillers and practice intermittently earlier than leaving Liverpool in 2016. 

Enrique joined Actual Zaragoza as a free agent again in Spain in September 2016 however sadly suffered from a mind tumour and moved to Paris for his therapy.

After beating most cancers, the previous full again is juggling a profession as a soccer agent with launching his enterprise Amplified Teaching On-line alongside health coach Steve Butler.

He nonetheless retains shut tabs on his former facet, often taking to Twitter or TikTok to voice his opinions on the Reds. 

Jordan Henderson 

The one member of the 2012 facet nonetheless at Anfield, you can say Henderson has carried out fairly effectively for himself. 

Henderson endured a tough begin to life at Liverpool following his £20million transfer from Sunderland, usually going through criticism for his shows. 

However the midfielder broke out from below Steven Gerrard’s shadow when he took over the captaincy following the membership legend’s departure in 2015. 

Since then, Henderson has led Liverpool to Champions League, Premier League and Membership World Cup titles, together with his trophy-lift shuffle turning into iconic among the many fanbase.  

Jay Spearing 

Spearing was a shock inclusion within the beginning line as much as face Chelsea after struggling to ascertain himself within the facet all through the season and lasted 54 minutes earlier than being hauled off for goalscorer Andy Carroll.  

The midfielder got here via the Liverpool academy below the steerage of Steve Heighway however left the membership on a £1.44m transfer to Bolton only one season after the Reds’ FA Cup defeat. 

Now 33, Spearing remains to be native taking part in at League Two facet Tranmere Rovers after becoming a member of the Wirral-based membership in 2020.

Stewart Downing

Downing had stints at West Ham and Middlesbrough following his two seasons at Anfield earlier than he joined in Blackburn Rovers in 2019.

He completed his profession at Rovers, with him spending the final couple of years taking part in at Ewood Park.

He remodeled 50 league appearances for the membership however determined to name it quits final August, with him asserting his retirement on the age of 37.

Steven Gerrard

Eternally ingrained in Anfield folklore as a membership legend, Gerrard remains to be knocking concerning the Premier League however in a barely totally different setting. 

After hanging up his boots, the previous Liverpool captain could not deliver himself to go away the dressing room as he turned his hand to administration.

He began out teaching Liverpool Academy’s under-18 group, earlier than taking his first senior managerial job at Rangers in 2018. 

The previous midfielder led the Scottish facet to their first league title in 2020-21 earlier than making the leap to the Premier League, taking cost at Aston Villa final November.  

Craig Bellamy

The Welshman had two stints at Anfield, the primary lasting only one season earlier than he made the transfer to West Ham and returned initially of the 2011-12 marketing campaign for his second – simply in time for Liverpool’s FA Cup cost. 

His second spell additionally lasted only one season as he moved to Cardiff on the finish of the time period earlier than retiring in 2014. 

He has since Cardiff’s youth facet and Anderlecht’s Underneath-21s earlier than turning into an assistant supervisor on the Belgian facet, however is presently not at a membership. 

Luis Suarez

Maybe essentially the most prolific member of this 2012 facet, Suarez left fairly the impression throughout his three and a half years on Merseyside.

Branded a madman by some and hailed as a genius by others the Uruguayan was beloved by the Kop. 

However the ahead’s time at Anfield ended when he sealed his dream transfer to Barcelona in 2014. 

His return to Anfield was not precisely satisfying as his Barcelona facet fell sufferer to Liverpool’s unbelievable comeback victory within the Champions League semi-final in 2019. 

After six years on the Nou Camp, the Catalan giants off loaded the 35-year-old to Atletico Madrid the place he established himself as a key member of Diego Simeone’s facet. 

Andy Carroll

Carroll scored simply ten minutes after coming off the bench to claw one again for Liverpool and a Petr Cech surprise save stopped him from equalising moments later. 

How totally different his Anfield profession may need been ought to he have hauled Liverpool degree that day.

Liverpool broke the British switch file by paying £35 million for the ahead however he finally ended up scoring fewer league objectives in the entire of his Reds profession than he had within the first six months of his Premier League profession at Newcastle.

He was shipped off to West Ham on a mortgage deal earlier than the transfer was made everlasting for lower than half the payment Liverpool forked out with stints at Newcastle and Studying following. 

The 33-year-old joined Championship facet West Brom in January however is ready to change into a free agent on the finish of his season when his short-term contract with the Midlands outfit expires. 

Dirk Kuyt

A cult hero at Liverpool and a serial winner within the Netherlands and Turkey, Kuyt loved a storied profession on the pitch however now he’s seeking to replicate it within the ring. 

 The 41-year-old is ready to change into the most recent ex-Premier League star to show his hand to boxing, following within the footsteps of Patrice Evra and Jamie O’Hara.

The Dutchman will participate in his first struggle in October, in an occasion which shall be led by kickboxing heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven however he doesn’t but have an opponent. 

CHELSEA

Petr Cech

Cech pulled off a sensational save to protect Chelsea’s lead with ten minutes remaining of the 2012 closing. 

The goalkeeper’s heroics weren’t restricted to the ultimate with Cech turning into a membership icon throughout his 11 years at Stamford Bridge.  

In 2015, he made the transfer throughout London to the Blues’ native rivals Arsenal earlier than hanging up his boots in 2019. 

He’s now showcasing his expertise on the ice as a semi-professional ice hockey participant, alongside juggling obligations as a participant technical and efficiency advisor for Chelsea.  

Jose Bosingwa

Bosingwa spent only one season at Chelsea earlier than making the transfer to Queens Park Rangers.

Nonetheless, his profession at Loftus Street did not final lengthy as simply 5 months into his deal Rangers had been reportedly already seeking to offload him. 

However the full again was mentioned to be refusing to go away for lower than the £8million excellent on his deal, creating friction between the participant and the membership. 

QPR ultimately managed to do away with him in the summertime, when he moved to Trabsponzor on a free switch. 

The 39-year-old noticed out his profession in Turkey earlier than retiring in 2016.  

Branislav Ivanovic

One among Ivanovic’s most memorable moments in a Chelsea shirt got here in a match in opposition to Liverpool nevertheless it occurred to return within the season after the 2 sides met within the FA Cup closing. 

The defender was bitten by Reds ahead Luis Suarez in an Anfield contest again in 2013. 

The Serb spent 4 and a half extra seasons at Chelsea after the FA Cup closing earlier than leaving midseason in 2017 for Zenit St Petersburg.  

He was most not too long ago at West Brom the place he spent one season earlier than being launched as a free agent and is presently and not using a membership. 

John Terry

The Chelsea legend and former captain is among the best defenders to have graced the Premier League, making 717 appearances for the Blues, scoring a formidable 67 objectives. 

He mentioned farewell to Chelsea followers in a memorable style as gamers stopped play within the twenty sixth minute of his closing sport in opposition to Sunderland to carry out a guard of honour for Terry. 

The defender left Stamford Bridge to play one season at Aston Villa earlier than becoming a member of Dean Smith’s backroom workers for 3 years.

He not too long ago made headlines for his vocal help of Roman Abramovich as he branded the Russian ‘the perfect proprietor’ after he put the membership up on the market following sanctions from the UK authorities within the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. 

Ashley Cole

Earlier this 12 months, Cole joined Everton as a part of former team-mate Frank Lampard’s backroom workers when he took cost at Goodison Park. 

He took up the place as first group coach for the Toffees, forsaking his earlier function as Academy Coach at Chelsea. 

Cole had additionally been named as Lee Carsley’s assistant with the England Underneath-21 squad final 12 months.   

John Obi Mikel

Mikel is presently and not using a membership after his contract was terminated with Kuwait Sporting Membership final November.

The 35-year-old was simply 4 months right into a one-year contract with the membership, which he joined on a free switch again in July 2021, earlier than leaving. 

He left Stoke Metropolis by mutual consent to hitch the Kuwaiti facet regardless of extending his cope with the Championship outfit only a month prior.

Frank Lampard

Much like his former worldwide team-mate and league rival Steven Gerrard, Lampard can be padding out his managerial CV within the top-flight. 

After retiring in 2017, the 43-year-old instantly turned to teaching, returning to Stamford Bridge with Chelsea’s youth facet. 

He then took his first senior administration function with Derby County earlier than heading again to Chelsea as supervisor in 2019. 

Sadly, his managerial profession with the Blues was not as profitable as his taking part in days and he was sacked in January 2021.  

Nonetheless, he’s presently on Merseyside hoping to maintain Everton within the Premier League after taking cost of the strugglers following the departure of Rafa Benitez. 

Ramires

Ramires put the Blues forward after simply 11 minutes when he dispatched two Liverpool defenders earlier than slotting the ball previous Pepe Reina.

Profitable the Premier League and Champions League along with the FA Cup with Chelsea, Ramires left Stamford Bridge for China in 2016.

After three years with Chinese language Tremendous League facet Jiangsu FC, he returned to his native Brazil to hitch Palmeiras. 

However Palmeiras confirmed in 2020 that the 33-year-old’s contract had been terminated by mutual consent and the participant admitted in an Instagram submit that ‘private’ components had been behind his departure.

The midfielder is presently and not using a membership however hasn’t formally introduced his retirement. 

Juan Mata

The Spaniard received the FA Cup with Chelsea in his first season on the membership after arriving from Valencia in August 2011. 

The midfielder made a £40million swap to Manchester United within the 2014 January switch window.

Mata remains to be at Previous Trafford having additionally received the FA Cup with United alongside the League Cup and Europa League. 

Nonetheless, his time within the North West is ready to return to an finish as his contract with the Crimson Devils expires in June, leaving him a free agent on the finish of the season.  

Salomon Kalou 

Kalou received quite a few titles throughout his six years at Chelsea, together with the Premier League, the Champions League, 4 FA Cups and the League Cup. 

He moved to Lille on a free switch on the finish of the 2012 season, the place he spent two seasons earlier than Hertha BSC.

In July 2020, the winger moved to Botafogo within the Brazilian Serie A on an 18-month contract however was launched the next April and is presently and not using a membership. 

Didier Drogba

Centre ahead Drogba scored 104 objectives in 254 Premier League appearances for Chelsea. The Ivorian additionally received three top-flight titles between 2004 and 2012 earlier than returning to west London for a one-season stint in 2014 to win one other. 

After a storied profession within the Premier League, Drogba determined to showcase his expertise throughout the pond as he grew to become player-owner of USL membership Phoenix Rising. 

The 44-year-old led Phoenix Rising to their first ever Western Convention finals in 2018 earlier than retiring.

He’s not taking part in for the American facet however the membership’s web site nonetheless names him as one of many house owners. 

Florent Malouda 

After his time as a Blue, Malouda made the transfer to India, signing for the Delhi Dynamos of the Indian Tremendous League.

He was their marquee participant, raking up a season-high eight assists in his debut season and helped the facet attain the semi-finals in each seasons he performed in. 

After retiring in 2018, he was signed to Swiss Tremendous League facet FC Zurich’s backroom workers within the January of the next 12 months. 

However simply two months later he discovered by way of Twitter that his contract on the membership had been terminated. 

He responded to a membership assertion, writing: ‘Actually I did not know that?’  

Raul Meireles 

Liverpool had been acquainted foes for the midfielder, having solely made the transfer to Chelsea from the Reds initially of the season. 

Leaving Stamford Bridge for Fenerbahce after simply as soon as season with the Blues, he retired in 2016.

Nonetheless, he resurfaced in headlines for reasonably surprising causes in 2019 when he appeared on the Portuguese model of Lip Sync Battle, miming alongside to Antonio Variacoes’ music ‘O corpo e que paga.’